Shazier says he wants to play again

[steelreserve]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22520246/pittsburgh-steelers-linebacker-ryan-shazier-says-plans-play-football-again-spinal-injury

Well. I suppose that answers that question.

Looming over that, of course, are whether he actually can do it (I would be amazed), or even if so, whether it'd be a good idea.

I guess that one sports doctor for the SD Union-Tribune said spinal stabilization surgery doesn't rule out resuming contact sports, but ... I dunno man, I'd be nervous every time the guy made a tackle.

[Mojouw]

Assume his health returns and there is zero medical risk. Dude is Wolverine or something. Can that speed and quickness be recovered? Bad example but Alis legs were never the same after his layoff


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fire Goodell]

I won't count on it, and personally think he should count his blessings and leave the game if he makes a full recovery.

However, deciding to play again is his decision, though other players have tried to come back after a serious neck injury and ended up just retiring after. Priest Holmes comes to mind, and arguably his injury wasn't as serious as Shazier's. If he does manage to come back to the game and play at the level he was, it'd be nothing short of a miracle.

[stillers4me]

That HOF acceptance speech is going to be a real tear jerker.

[Moose]

When/if the doctor's give him the clean bill of health, can you imagine the serious decision making Ryan is going to have to do ? ! Some serious God meditation, family conversations, talking with friends, and many, many sleepless nights. I hope and pray he makes the best decision. Good luck Ryan.

[Craic]

That HOF acceptance speech is going to be a real tear jerker.

If that ever happened, it'd be almost equal to the Rocky Bleier story. Of course, nothing will equate to getting wounded because you're serving your country, but just the comeback story in and of itself would be unbelievable.

[st33lersguy]

Glad he wants to, but I don't see it. Even if he plays a snap of NFL football again, the chances of him not getting injured again at some point and missing time are virtually zero

[ALLD]

Shazier was often injured before the recent catastrophic incident. He needs to think about another career before he does anymore permanent damage.

[EzraTank]

IF (and that's a big if) he can clear all the medical hurdles, and regain his form and strength he needs to learn how to tackle properly! No more leading with your head down. The question is can he? Once you learn how to tackle and you've done it your whole life can you change your game?

[pczach]

IF (and that's a big if) he can clear all the medical hurdles, and regain his form and strength he needs to learn how to tackle properly! No more leading with your head down. The question is can he? Once you learn how to tackle and you've done it your whole life can you change your game?



You can, but it's very difficult. Tackling becomes such a natural thing that you don't even think about it. If you have to think about it...you play slower. I can see someone running to the ball and as they arrive, they freeze up just before contact and whiff on the tackle.

Think about everything you do naturally in your life without thinking about what you're doing or how. Now imagine training yourself to do it differently.......Not easy. It would take a while to get it done, but it can be done IMO.

[Fire Goodell]

Maybe if he does see the field again, would he wear one of those neck colllars that some ILB's used to use before? Would one of those have prevented the injury?

[steelreserve]

Maybe if he does see the field again, would he wear one of those neck colllars that some ILB's used to use before? Would one of those have prevented the injury?

If you're talking about the same ones I'm thinking of, probably not, I think those keep your neck from being bent backwards. Shazier's injury was basically getting hit on the top of the head with such force that it compressed downward onto his neck and sent a shockwave down his spine so hard that it caused an injury halfway down his back. Kind of like a hammer hitting a nail, stopping sideways motion won't do much to prevent that. If he was tackling with his head up, then the brace could stop you from getting hurt.

[Hawkman]

If you're talking about the same ones I'm thinking of, probably not, I think those keep your neck from being bent backwards. Shazier's injury was basically getting hit on the top of the head with such force that it compressed downward onto his neck and sent a shockwave down his spine so hard that it caused an injury halfway down his back. Kind of like a hammer hitting a nail, stopping sideways motion won't do much to prevent that. If he was tackling with his head up, then the brace could stop you from getting hurt.

Yeah, it was the ultimate “compression “ fracture. The bad thing was .....it was his spine. Turns his head one way or the other and he’s out for a week.

[DesertSteel]

Shazier was often injured before the recent catastrophic incident. He needs to think about another career before he does anymore permanent damage.
Instead, he needs to think about what HE WANTS to do with his life and not worry about other people's opinions. I think he's already made his statement about what HE WANTS.

- - - Updated - - -


IF (and that's a big if) he can clear all the medical hurdles, and regain his form and strength he needs to learn how to tackle properly! No more leading with your head down. The question is can he? Once you learn how to tackle and you've done it your whole life can you change your game?
If he can learn to walk and run again I'm pretty sure he can learn how to tackle differently.

[Craic]

Instead, he needs to think about what HE WANTS to do with his life and not worry about other people's opinions. I think he's already made his statement about what HE WANTS.

I disagree. For something this serious, worrying about other people's opinions is exactly what he needs to do because his actions will affect several other people. I'm not speak of web forums here, but of family, close friends, doctors, etc. If I had a personal relationship with him, I would be lobbying hard for him to hang up the cleats unless the doctors outright said there is no increased chance of a second occurrence or, if one happened, the chance of greater severity does not increase.

Of course he doesn't have to worry about what people on a forum say. On the other hand, people on a forum also get to voice their opinion and what he should and shouldn't worry about.

[steelreserve]

Instead, he needs to think about what HE WANTS to do with his life and not worry about other people's opinions. I think he's already made his statement about what HE WANTS.


Ultimately that's what he's going to do. It's not like anyone on a message board can force him to quit.

On the other hand, we're certainly each entitled to form our own ideas about whether that's a smart move on his part or a dumb one.

[DesertSteel]

I disagree. For something this serious, worrying about other people's opinions is exactly what he needs to do because his actions will affect several other people. I'm not speak of web forums here, but of family, close friends, doctors, etc. If I had a personal relationship with him, I would be lobbying hard for him to hang up the cleats unless the doctors outright said there is no increased chance of a second occurrence or, if one happened, the chance of greater severity does not increase.

Of course he doesn't have to worry about what people on a forum say. On the other hand, people on a forum also get to voice their opinion and what he should and shouldn't worry about.
On the other hand, if they loved him they'd support him trying to get medically cleared to play again. If he's medically cleared, what's the issue? Every guy out there is at risk. No one should play if potential injury is the primary concern. And for all we know, his family and close friends support his decision.

[Craic]

On the other hand, if they loved him they'd support him trying to get medically cleared to play again.

Loving someone doesn't mean supporting them in every decision they make. It means caring enough to be a countering voice when it's needed, but also caring about the person regardless of the final decision. I've been in situation where I've had to not support someone precisely because I loved them and believed the decision was very wrong for them. Doesn't mean I stopped caring for them, though.

That said, once again, who cares what we're saying on a message board.

[GBMelBlount]

Loving someone doesn't mean supporting them in every decision they make.

It means caring enough to be a countering voice when it's needed, but also caring about the person regardless of the final decision.

I've been in situation where I've had to not support someone precisely because I loved them and believed the decision was very wrong for them.

Doesn't mean I stopped caring for them, though.

That said, once again, who cares what we're saying on a message board.

Very well said and I agree.

[DesertSteel]

Loving someone doesn't mean supporting them in every decision they make. It means caring enough to be a countering voice when it's needed, but also caring about the person regardless of the final decision. I've been in situation where I've had to not support someone precisely because I loved them and believed the decision was very wrong for them. Doesn't mean I stopped caring for them, though.

That said, once again, who cares what we're saying on a message board.
I don’t disagree with you but there’s nothing to indicate they aren’t supportive of his decision to try. He’s not married, right? No kids?

[pczach]

I think we all understand that there is danger for Ryan if he regains his form before the injury and decides to play football again.

The thing that many don't seem to understand is that while it's ok for us to think he should never play again....it's none of our business. As for his family, they have a right to tell him whatever they want, but in the end this is his decision to make. This is his life to do with however he chooses. If the people in his life truly love him, they will support his decision even if they don't agree with it.

This isn't like him deciding to run a meth lab as a life decision. This is someone trying to regain his honorable life as he lived it.

I would like to see him regain his physical abilities and never play again, but I'm not the one giving up something I love doing and have been preparing to do my entire life.

Again, this is his decision to make and nobody else's.

The people that don't support his decision are the one's being selfish. They're not the ones that would be giving up who they are.

It is very difficult to put yourself in his shoes if you have never walked that path.

[DesertSteel]

I think we all understand that there is danger for Ryan if he regains his form before the injury and decides to play football again.

The thing that many don't seem to understand is that while it's ok for us to think he should never play again....it's none of our business. As for his family, they have a right to tell him whatever they want, but in the end this is his decision to make. This is his life to do with however he chooses. If the people in his life truly love him, they will support his decision even if they don't agree with it.

This isn't like him deciding to run a meth lab as a life decision. This is someone trying to regain his honorable life as he lived it.

I would like to see him regain his physical abilities and never play again, but I'm not the one giving up something I love doing and have been preparing to do my entire life.

Again, this is his decision to make and nobody else's.

The people that don't support his decision are the one's being selfish. They're not the ones that would be giving up who they are.

It is very difficult to put yourself in his shoes if you have never walked that path.
Well said.

[stillers4me]

I don’t disagree with you but there’s nothing to indicate they aren’t supportive of his decision to try. He’s not married, right? No kids?

He's engaged and has a child.

[teegre]

I want to play ILB, too. Doesn’t mean my dream will come to fruition.

[DesertSteel]

I want to play ILB, too. Doesn’t mean my dream will come to fruition.
Me too. And I'd pursue it if there was even 1% chance of it happening.

[Steelerchad]

Even if he's physically capable at some point, he may never be there mentally. The game at that level is so fast, the slightest hesitation would make all the difference in the world. I'm not sure how he can discount what happened and how close he was to maybe never walking again. It would always be in the back of his mind IMO.

[Craic]

I don’t disagree with you but there’s nothing to indicate they aren’t supportive of his decision to try. He’s not married, right? No kids?

Parents, siblings, etc.

One thing I know is true, we both agree that we want Shazier to be able to come back and play without any concern.

[DesertSteel]

What a great miracle it would be for him to make it back. I pray to God that he’s able whether it comes to fruition or not.

[ALLD]

Instead, he needs to think about what HE WANTS to do with his life and not worry about other people's opinions. I think he's already made his statement about what HE WANTS.

- - - Updated - - -


If he can learn to walk and run again I'm pretty sure he can learn how to tackle differently.


I think Shazier was being magnanimous, but it is highly unlikely he will play again. There would only be a few similar comebacks in history from getting off the cross going back 2017 years. Even if he can run, how durable will he be considering he was never durable in the NFL?

Don't allow your emotions to overrule logic in this case. I hope he makes it, but he has a < 1% chance. I can only think of Jim Carey in Dumb & Dumber at this point.

[DesertSteel]

I think Shazier was being magnanimous, but it is highly unlikely he will play again. There would only be a few similar comebacks in history from getting off the cross going back 2017 years. Even if he can run, how durable will he be considering he was never durable in the NFL?

Don't allow your emotions to overrule logic in this case. I hope he makes it, but he has a < 1% chance. I can only think of Jim Carey in Dumb & Dumber at this point.
I'm sure he values your assessment.

[EzraTank]

You can, but it's very difficult. Tackling becomes such a natural thing that you don't even think about it. If you have to think about it...you play slower. I can see someone running to the ball and as they arrive, they freeze up just before contact and whiff on the tackle.

Think about everything you do naturally in your life without thinking about what you're doing or how. Now imagine training yourself to do it differently.......Not easy. It would take a while to get it done, but it can be done IMO.

Oh, I agree. I remember watching Eric Lindros getting concussed time after time because he had the terrible habit of skating with his head down looking at the puck. He was so big as a kid that he just ran over people trying to hit him at the younger levels but once guys in the NHL realized this they targeted his head. He never learned to skate with his head up and after that giant hit by Scott Stevens and the Flyers drama he never was the same when he came back because he stopped hitting and playing aggressive.

[steel striker]

Well we all know there are no guarantees about coming back from any major spine injuries and, I just hope he is able to live a normal life. Take it from this back patient and, not to compare. Back in 2005 I had a L4-S-L5S1 microdiscectomy with a drop foot and, I made a full recovery I coud not imagine trying to play football after that. I rooting hard for Ryan and, wish him the best. If he were able to get to playing football what a story it would be.

[ALLD]

It would be biblical.